Data sources
Every fact on Trucking Lens comes from datasets the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration publishes on data.transportation.gov. We rebuild our copy every day; the current one was built on Nov 12, 2026.
Datasets
| Dataset | What we use it for | FMCSA last updated |
|---|---|---|
| Company Census File | Name, status, location, fleet, drivers, cargo, MCS-150 date, safety rating | Nov 11, 2026 |
| Motus Carrier | Operating authority by docket since FMCSA moved registration to Motus (May 2026) | Nov 12, 2026 |
| Carrier (legacy L&I) | Operating authority for dockets not yet in Motus | Nov 11, 2026 |
| Motus AuthHist | Grants, suspensions and reinstatements since May 2026; the daily activity pages | Nov 12, 2026 |
| AuthHist (legacy L&I) | Authority history before Motus, including the first grant date | Nov 11, 2026 |
| ActPendInsur | Insurance and bond filings on file, with pending cancellations | Nov 11, 2026 |
| Revocation | Revocation orders | Nov 11, 2026 |
| Out of Service Orders | Out-of-service orders and when they were lifted | Nov 11, 2026 |
USDOT numbers in the current build: 4,528,948.
Operating authority
A USDOT number identifies a company to FMCSA. Operating authority (an MC, FF or MX docket number) is the separate permission to haul regulated freight or passengers for hire across state lines, or to arrange it as a broker. A carrier can have an active USDOT number and no active authority; private and intrastate carriers often need none.
In May 2026 FMCSA moved registration to a new system, Motus. Dockets handled there appear in the Motus files with eight-digit numbers; older dockets stay in the legacy files until they are migrated. Where both have the same docket, we show Motus. "Earliest grant on file" is the oldest grant on any of the carrier's dockets; dockets granted before FMCSA's electronic records may have no date.
Insurance
Carriers with authority must keep liability insurance (and, for household goods, cargo insurance) on file with FMCSA; brokers file a surety bond or trust fund. The insurer files the form, and files a cancellation when a policy ends. If no replacement is filed by the cancellation date, FMCSA suspends the authority. Coverage amounts are as filed; a filing shows the policy exists, not that a claim would be paid.
What we leave out
FMCSA's Census file includes phone numbers, email addresses, street addresses and the names of company officers. We do not show them, put them in the bulk results or the API, or sell them. The street address is used only to count how many active carriers share it, and is not stored. Carriers with one power unit and no operating authority are not offered to search engines. Anyone can ask us to hide a listing.
Limits
FMCSA's files lag its live systems by a day or more, and our copy adds up to a day. Inspection and crash measures (SMS) are not shown here; follow the link on each carrier page to FMCSA's SMS. Always confirm with the SAFER Company Snapshot before acting.